Machine foe deawing wiee



(No Model.) 8 Sheets -Sl1eet M.

J. RADY. MACHINE FOR DRAWING WIRE.

No. 584,792. Patented June 22,1897

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J. RADY. MACHINE FOR DRAWING WIRE.

* INVENTUR Jamwtuf'y Patented June 22, 1897.

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(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 3.

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MACHINE FOR DRAWING WIRE.

Patented June 22, 189 7.

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8 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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J BABY I MACHINE FOR DRAWING WIRE.

Patented June 22, 18-97;

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8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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Patented June 22,1897.

J. RADY. MACHINE FOR DRAWING WIRE.

(No Model.)

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J. RADY. MACHINE FOR DRAWING WIRE.

No. 584,792. Patented June 22, 1897.

WITNESS ES:

INVENTOR John 1w: moms PETERS cu. wgmaumo wsmuqrcm. ac

NrrEn STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOHN RADY, OF GEORGETOWN, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR DRAWING- WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,792, dated June 22,1897.. Application filed November 1, 1895. Serial No. 567,610. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RADY, a citizen of the United States, residingat Georgetown, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and usef Lil Improvements in Machines for DrawinglVire; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in machinesfor drawing wire, and has for its object to provide a machine of thisdescription which will draw wire down to a required small size withoutbreaking said wire, thus greatly increasing the output of the machineand also rendering the product of much finer quality.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a plan View of myimproved machine; Fig. 2, afront elevation; Fig. 3, a section on the line m m of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, asection on the line y y of Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and S are detailperspective views of the parts carried by one of the counter-shafts fromwhich motion is imparted to the wire-drawing drums; Fig. 9, a rear Viewof a modified form of my machine; Fig. 10, a plan View of such modifiedconstruction, and Fig. 11 a front elevation of another modification ofmy invention.

Similar numbers of reference denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

1 is the frame, supported by the usual legs 2.

3 is the power-shaft, journaled within the frame at the rear of themachine, and dis a power-pulley mounted on the end of said shaft.

5 is a counter-shaft journaled in the frame at right angles to thepower-shaft 3, and 6 is a bevel-gear rigidon said coun tor-shaft, whichmeshes with a bevel-gear 7, rigid on the powershaft, whereby motion isimparted to the counter-shaft 5 from said power-shaft.

8 is a shaft journaled in the frame parallel with the counter-shaft 5,and rigidly mounted on the forward end of said shaft 8 is a reel or drum9.

10 is a pinion tight on the counter-shaft 5, which meshes with a largegear 11 on the shaft 8, whereby motion is transmitted from thecounter-shaft 5 to the shaft 8 and the drum 9 carried thereon. Extendingfrom the frame is a bracket 12, to which is secured an ordinarydie-block 13, through which the wire is drawn when it undergoes thefirst reducing operation. Of course the die-block 13 is placed in properrelative position with respect to the periphery of the dru1n9, so thatthe wire will travel in a direct line from said die-block to theperiphery of said drum, so that the wear on the die will be evenlydistributed, as will be understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

Thus far I have described only the instrumentalities which effect thefirst drawing operation, and said instrumentalities are of ordinaryconstruction, for the difficulty in reducing a thick wire rod down to avery thin strand of wire is not in the first drawing operation, but inthe succeeding ones.

As the several sets of mechanisms for further reducing the wire afterthe first drawing operation has been performed are precisely alike,withthe exception of the size of the gears employed therein, I shalldescribe but one of such mechanisms, the description of one set beingdeemed sufficient for them all.

In the drawings I have illustrated but two of such sets of mechanismsfor reducing the wire after the first drawing operation has beenperformed; but it will be understood that a greater number may beemployed when it is desired to reduce the wire to a much finer gage.

It must also be understood that the multiplication of parts,so that aplurality of Wires may be drawn simultaneously, may be made Withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention.

14 is a counter-shaft similar to the countershaft 5 and likewisejournaled in the frame.

15 is a bevel-gear tight 011 the counter-shaft 14, which meshes with abevel-gear 16, tight on the power-shaft 3, whereby motion is imparted tosaid counter-shaft from the powershaft.

17 is a shaft journaled in the frame and parallel with the counter-shaft14.

18 is a reel or drum similar to the drum 9, rigidly mounted on theforward end of the shaft 17.

19 20 are two pinions loose on the countershaft 14, the pinion 19 beingsomewhat larger than the pinion 20, and either one of these pinions iscapable of turning independent of the other.

21 22 are two large gears rigid on the shaft 17, the gear 21 beingsomewhat smaller in diameter than the gear 23. The pinion 19 meshes withthe gear 21, while the pinion 2O meshes with the gear 22.

23 is a clutch-hub formed on one side of the pinion 19, and 24 is aclutch splined 011 the counter-shaft 14 in such manner as to be capableof a free sliding movement thereon, and said clutch is adapted to engagethe h ub 23 of the pinion 19, so as to cause said pinion and clutch torevolve together.

25 is a ratchet formed on the pinion 20, and 26 is a spring-actuatedpawl carried bya collar 27, rigid on the counter-shaft 14. The pawl 26is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet 25 on the pinion 20, so asto cause the collar 27, on which said pawl is carried, and the pinion torevolve together.

When the clutch 24 is in engagement with the pinion 19, the gear 21(with which said pinion 19 meshes) and gear 22, rigid on the shaft17,will cause the motion of said pinion 19 tobe transmitted to thepinion 20, and said pinion 20 will be caused to revolve faster than saidpinion 19, because the motion of said pinion 19 will have been slightlymultiplied by the gears 21 22 by reason of their difference indiameters. The pinion 20 will now be revolved faster than the shaft onwhich it is carried, and the pawl 26 will slip idly over the teeth ofthe ratchet 25, all of which will be readily understood by reference toFigs. 1, 3, and 4.

When the clutch 24 is disengaged from the pinion 19, the pawl 26 willengage the teeth of the ratchet and cause the pinion 20 to be revolvedwith the shaft on which it is carried in such manner as if said pinionwere rigidly mounted thereon. This will cause the shaft 17 to berevolved at a slower speed than when the clutch 24 is in engagement withthe pinion 19, and said pinion will of course be loose and free to turnidly around the shaft on which it is carried.

The object in equipping the shafts 14 17 with the different-sizedpinions and gears, together with the clutch mechanism above described,is to cause the shaft 17, on which the reel or drum 18 is mounted, to bedriven at two different speeds, the reason for which will be presentlyexplained.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 4, 28 is a lever pivoted at 29to a bracket or upright 30, extending from the frame, and 31 is agrooved pulley mounted on the upper extremity of said lever. The lowerend of the lever 28 is provided with an overpoise 32.

33 is a clutch-lever pivoted between cars 34, rigid with the frame, and35 is a link the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the lever28, while the lower end of said link is pivotall y connected to the endof said clutchlever 33, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

36 is an ordinary die-block, similar to the die 13, but of a smallersize, and secured in proper relative position on a bracket 37, eX-tending from the frame.

38 is a grooved pulley mounted on an upright 39, rigid with the frame,the function of said pulley being to properly guide the wire to thedie-block 36.

The wire 40 is first forced through the die 13 and then wound severaltimes around the drum 9. From the drum 9 the wire is passed up and overthe pulley 31, and thence under the pulley 38 to the die-block 36,through which it is drawn by the drum 18, around which said wire iswound several times before it is passed on to the next drawingmechanism. The overpoise 32 on the lower end of the lever 28 is ofsufficient weight to counterbalance the weight of the parts on saidlever and in addition thereto exert a slight but constant pull on thewire. The proportions of the pinion 19 and gear21 with respect to eachother are calculated to be such as will cause the drum 18 to draw thewire through the die 36 a trifle faster than said wire is reeled off ofthe drum 9 when the shaft 17 is being driven by said pinion 20 and gear22 with respect to each other are such as will cause the drum 18 to drawthe wire through the die 36 a trifle slower than said wire is reeled offof said drum 9 when the shaft 17 is being driven by said pinion 20. Thevariable speed of the drawing-drum 18 is made necessary owing to thefact that the metal of which the wire is composed is not of a uniformdensity, and will consequently vary in spots in degree of hardness andductility, and therefore if two pieces of wire of a given length andthickness be drawn down to a size-smaller it will be found that the saidtwo pieces of wire will not measure the same in length after being drawndown to such smaller size, and therefore, owing to the Variable qualityof the wire, if the drawing-drum 18 were run at one certain speed eithera quantity of wire would accumulate between the first drawing-drum andthe die 36 or said wire would be drawn through said die faster than itwould be reeled from said drum 9, and in a short while the strain thuscreated would cause the wire to break.

The operation of the automatic clutchshifting mechanism is as follows:Suppose the clutch 24 to be in engagement with the pinion 19, as shownin Figs. 1 and 4. The drum 18 will then be rotated at its greatestspeed, which will cause the length of wire which is passed around thepulleys 31 38 between the drums 9 18 to be gradually shortened, thuscausing the lever 28 to be depressed, which through its connection withthe clutch-lever will cause the clutch 24 to be thrown out of engagementwith the pinion 19. As soon as the clutch 24 is disengaged from thepinion 19 the pawl 26 will be permitted to engage the ratchet 25, whichwill cause the shaft 17 and drum 18 carried thereon to be driven by thepinion 20, which, as previously eX- plained, causes said drum to drawthe wire through the die 36 slower than it is reeled from the drum 9.The lever 28 will now be permitted to gradually assume its formerelevated position, which of course will effect the engagement of theclutch 24 with the pinion 19 and restore the faster speed to said drum18. This changing from one speed to another is continued throughout thetime the machine is drawing wire with more or less regularity, and owingto this fact no great quantity of wire can accumulate between any two ofthe drums, and also the breaking of the wire between any two of saiddrums is effectually prevented.

41 is a reel upon which the wire is wound as it comes from the machine.The reel 41 is secured upon a shaft 42, which is journaled and supportedin bearings 43, rigid with the frame. 44 is a belt-pulley 011 the end ofthe shaft 42, to which a belt (not shown) may be applied from anyconvenient nearby shaftin g to rotate the reel 41 to effect the windingof the finished wire thereon.

. In Figs. 9and 10 I have shown a modified form of the clutch mechanism,and in this construction but one set of gears are used for driving theshaft 17. Referring to these figures, 45 is a pinion tight on thecounter-shaft 14, and 46 is a large gear tight on the shaft 17 withwhich said pinion meshes. The bevel-gear 15 is tight on thecounter-shaft 14, as described in my preferred construction, but thebevel-gear 1 6, with which said bevelgear 15 meshes, is in this instanceloose on the power-shaft and has a hub 47, with which an ordinaryfriction-clutch 48 engages. The friction-clutch is of course splined onthe power-shaft and is capable of a sliding movement toward and awayfrom the hub of the bevel-gear 16. 49 is a collar tight on thepower-shaft, which serves to keep the bevelgear 16 in proper position.The lever 28 in this construction is secured to a rock-shaft 50,journaled in bearings 51, rigid with the frame, and 52 is an overpoisesecured to said rock-shaft, the function of this overpoise of coursebeing the same as that ascribed to the overpoise 32. To the opposite endof the rock-shaft is secured a crank-arm 53. The clutch-lever 33 ispivoted at 54 to the frame, and 55 is a link, one end of which ispivotally connected to the upper end of the clutch-lever, while theother end is likewise connected to the end of the crank-arm 53. Theproportions of the pinion 45 and gear 46 are such that the drum 18 willdraw the wire through the die 36 a trifle faster than it is reeled fromthe drum 9, and therefore the tension on the wire will cause the lever28 to be gradually depressed, and when this occurs the frictionclutch 48will be withdrawn from engagement with the bevel-gear 16, which willcause said gear and parts operated thereby to slow up until the tensionof the wire will permit the lever 28 to resume its elevated position,when the friction-clutch will be again brought in contact with thebevel-gearltl.

In Fig. 11 I have shown another modification of my invention wherein thevariablespeed gears are dispensed with and the various wire-drawingdrums are rotated at uniform speeds. The grooved pulley 31, mounted onthe end of the lever 28, is in this instance merely a tension device forthe wire. The lever 28 in this construction has no connection with anyclutch-shifting mechanism and acts only as a take-up to compensate forthe variable ductility of the wire being drawn.

I have found by experience that this construc tion is admirably adaptedfor use in drawing wire of the finer gages, and for this class of workvariable speeds for the wire drawing drums is not absolutely necessary.

1 do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown anddescribed, since the various salient features may be altered or modifiedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the frame, the powershaft journaled therein, thedie-block through which the wire passes during the first drawingoperation, a drum mounted on a shaft journaled in the frame, suitablegearing be tween said drum shaft and power shaft whereby said drum-shaftis driven at a uniform speed, the shaft 17 journaled in the frame andcarrying a drawing-drum, the gears 21, 22, tight on the shaft 17, thepinions 19, 20, loose on a counter-shaft driven from the power-shaft bysuitable gearing, the die-block 36 through which the wire passes duringthe second drawing operation, and instrumentalities automaticallycontrolled by the wire for causing the shaft 17 to be first driven byone of the pinions 19, 20, and then by the other, whereby two differentspeeds are imparted to the drawing-drum, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the frame, the dieblock 36 secured in properrelative position thereon, the shaft 17 journaled in. said frame andcarrying a drawing-drum, the gears 21, 22, tight on said shaft 17 andmeshing with pinions 19, 20, loose on the counter-shaft 14, the pawl 26carried on the shaft 14 and adapted to engage the ratchet 25 formed withthe pinion 20, whereby said pinion is rendered in effect tight on saidshaft 14, a clutch adapted to engage the pinion 19, whereby said pinionis caused to revolve with said shaft 14, and means automaticallycontrolled by the wire for causing the engagement anddisengageternatively connected to said winding-reel, and a shiftingpiece over which the wire passes from the die-block and connected tosaid gears, to shift the one or the other into driving connection withthe reel, all combined substantially as described.

4. In a wire-drawin g machine, a die-block, a winding-reel and aplurality of drivinggears by either one of which said reel is propelled,and means operated on by the Wire after passing the die-block, by whichthe engagement of one or the other drivinggear with the reel isdetermined, all combined substantially as described.

5. In a wire-drawing machine, a series of die-blocks through which thewire passes successively, a series of drawing-reels, one succeeding eachdie-block, a shifting piece over which the wire passes between the dieand reel, and alternative trains of positively-actuated driving-gearscontrolled by said shifting piece to automatically and positively speedthe winding-reels, all combined substantially as described.

6. In a wire-drawing machine, a die-block and a winding-reel, and apower-dri\-'en counter-shaft bearing a plurality of driving-gearsalternatively in driving relation with the winding-reel, a clutch inposition to opera-- tively engage one or the other of these gears, and ashifter, over which the wire passes, and by which the clutch may beautomatically engaged with one or the other driving-gear, all combinedsubstantially as described.

'7. In a wire-drawingmachine, the die-block and winding-reel, aplurality of driving-gears of differing size, one or the other of whichmay be thrown into operative relation with the reel, a shifter overwhich the wire passes, said shifter controlling the engagement of saidgears with the reel, and a tension device against the pressure of whichthe shifter operates, all combined substantially as described.

8. In a wire-drawin g machine,the die-block, the winding-reel, and adriving-shaft provided with a plurality of sets of drivinggears, one setdriving the reel at a minimum speed and having a member free to yieldand permit the driving of the reel by the other set at maximum speed,and means controlled by the wire for engaging one or the other sets ofdriving-gears with the winding-reel, all combined substantially asdescribed.

9. In a wire-drawingmachine,the die-block, a winding-reel by which thewire is drawn positively from said die-block, a plurality of positivelyacting driving gears either of which may be thrown into operation topropel the winding-gear, and an automatic shifter by which the wireoperates to shift one or another of the .lriving-gears into operation,all combined substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN RADY.

Vitnesses:

J. S. FINcrI, T. E. FLoon.

